How Does Your Garden Grow?

Bay Weekly’s Ephemeral Guide to Spring Plant Sales

By Sandra Olivetti Martin

A young tomato lover at Greenstreet Garden's Tomatomania.

The flowers that bloom in spring are often ephemerals, their precious blooms here one day and gone the next.
So, too, is the season for plant sales. Starting this weekend and continuing to mid-May, local garden clubs, historical and horticultural societies and nurseries bring out their abundance.
These small, often one-day-only affairs offer hundreds of plants at bargain prices, including unusual and rare varieties that you won’t find elsewhere — like the camellia selection at London Town.
All are locally grown, typically by club members whose gardens have more than enough to share, so all are seasoned to the Chesapeake’s climate and should settle in well. Many of the proven, green-thumb gardeners are on-hand to help you plan, choose and buy the right plants. At some sales, they’ll even diagnose your plant problems. Now’s the time, and it’s quick passing, so don’t miss these fleeting opportunities.

Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea and Arts

When: Saturday, April 28, 10am-4pmWhat: Shopping for herbs is only the beginning. You’ll stroll among vendors of fragrant teas, fine arts, handmade baskets, garden accessories, jewelry and more. Hear live music. Enjoy tea and scones in the mansion. Visit artists in their studios and see exhibits. Tour Montpelier, take in a lecture, enjoy a tasty lunch. Kids play old-fashioned games, see live animals at an exhibit and dress in colonial costumes.Why: Combine your herb shopping with a festival and history lesson.Where: Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel: 301-377-7817.

Four Rivers Garden Club Flower Mart

When: Monday, April 30, 8:30am-2:30pmWhat: For almost 70 years, the Four Rivers Garden Club has ushered in spring with a homegrown flower mart outside Market House. Arrive early to select pre-made May baskets and fresh-cut flowers for your May basket. Embellish your garden with locally grown natives, perennials, herbs and more, most grown by members of the Four Rivers Garden Club, the oldest garden club in Anne Arundel County. Garden items and baked goods sold.
Come with garden questions and bagged samples of your gardening problem for a master gardener’s expert advice.Why: Take part in a tradition while supporting Four Rivers Garden Club’s community projects.Where: Next to Market House, Annapolis City Dock: 410-757-7837.

Historic Annapolis ­Plantasia

When: Thursday, May 3, 6-8pmWhat: Plantasia, Historic Annapolis’ 3rd annual Garden Party and Plant Sale. Stroll the paths of the William Paca Garden to discover its beauty and elegance; sip signature cocktails and treat yourself to delicacies provided by Ken’s Creative Kitchen. In a silent auction like no other, bid on rare and heirloom plants, including some grown at the homes of our founding fathers.How Much: $100 per person.Where: William Paca Garden, 186 Prince George St., Annapolis: 410-267-8146; www.annapolis.org.

Calvert County Master Gardeners

When: Saturday, May 5, 8am-noonWhat: Furnish your garden with healthy flora raised by Calvert County master gardeners. From the masters’ private collections come natives and non-natives, including shrubs, perennials, butterfly attractors, vegetables, herbs and houseplants. Shop early for spicebush, arrow-wood, sweet pepperbush and red osier dogwood.
Bring botanical oddities or photos of your ailing specimens to the plant clinic.
Also bring old pots and trays for reuse and recycling.Why: Get sage advice from master gardeners, who provide detailed planting instructions and label all that’s green with names and planting conditions for easy shopping. See what plants will look like later in the season with photos of each species at peak.Where: Community Resources Building, 30 Duke St., Prince Frederick: 410-535-3662.

Alice Ferguson ­Foundation at Hard ­Bargain Farm

When: Saturday, May 5, 11am-4pmWhat: The Alice Ferguson Foundation’s plant sale coincides with the spring Farm Festival. Plant sale offerings include annuals, perennials, natives and shrubs purchased fresh from local nurseries.
Take a hayride to the Potomac River and back, try cow milking, butter churning and wool spinning. Eat barbecue and ice cream; listen to live music. Kids get their own fun: a touch tank, face painting and crafts.
Why: Make a family day of it as you shop for plants and kids play and learn; then the whole family enjoys a picnic concert. When you buy plants, you help keep the farm’s formal gardens stay green all season long.Where: Hard Bargain Farm: Accokeek, Charles County: 301-292-5665.

Chesapeake Beach Garden Club

When: Saturday, May 12, 9am-noonWhat: The Chesapeake Beach Garden Club’s event is part plant sale and part flea market. For your garden, members dig and divide their own collections to bring you colorful and healthy flora. It’s a casual, relaxed atmosphere where members typically sell bargain-priced tomato plants, irises of all colors, houseplants, pansies, petunias and more. You’ll also find herbs, bulbs and seeds, including bromeliads plus lovely hanging baskets and containers for Mother’s Day.Why: Proceeds benefit the Garden Club, which keeps town planters and gardens brimming with color, as well as giving donations and advice to the elementary school’s reading garden.Where: Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum: 301-855-0116.

Summerseat Farm

When: Saturday, May 12, 8am-3pmWhat: The 10th Anniversary Summerseat Plant Sale lays out a huge assortment of shrubs, trees, grasses, hanging baskets, crafts and Mother’s Day gifts. There’s plenty of parking and help carrying purchases to your vehicle. The Courtyard Café serves breakfast and lunch, including buffalo burgers.Why: Visit and tour the peaceful setting of a farm dating from 1678 with a manor house built in 1884. See farm animals, including American buffalo and Barbados sheep. Learn at educational exhibits. Entertain kids.Where: Summerseat Farm, Mechanicsville, St. Mary’s County: 301-373-6607 or 301-373-5858.

Environmental Concern 40th Anniversary Plant Sale & Open House

When: Friday, May 18, 9am-4pm & Saturday, May 19, 9am-2pmWhat: Semi-annual native plant sale.Why: Gardens that use native plants speak to us because they don’t just mimic nature: They are a part of it. Environmental Concern has been growing native plants for 40 years, each year inviting customers to share in the love of nature.Where: 201 Boundary Lane., St. Michaels; 410-745-9620; www.wetland.org/nursery_news_plantsale.htm.

Annapolis Horticulture Society

Debi Mallonee with plants at the Annapolis Horticulture Society sale.

When: Saturday, May 19, 7am-noonWhat: The Annapolis Horticulture Society offers botanical excess from members’ collections. Native and nonnative plants on sale, including perennials, annuals, tropicals, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and trees. Early birds scoop up many between 7 and 9am.
Also on sale: Bay Gardener Dr. Francis Gouin’s book Enough Said, a collection of his columns for the Society’s newsletter.Why: Shop for fresh local bounty, and plan your garden in one shopping trip with guidance from knowledgeable garden enthusiasts.Where: Anne Arundel Farmers ­Market, corner of Riva Rd. & Truman Pkwy., Annapolis:www.annapolis­horticulture.org.